Fremont City Council Meeting: 07/16/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: City Council
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Council Referrals & Appointments
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5218) DOC ID: 5218
Updated: 7/12/2024 7:57 AM by Dina Lewis Page 1
COUNCILMEMBER SALWAN REFERRAL: Naming Alameda County Main Library in Fremont after Former Mayor Gus Morrison and Sunrise Village or Another Notable Affordable Housing Project after Former Assembly Member and Councilmember John A. Dutra
Contact Persons:
Name: Raj Salwan
Title: Councilmember
Div/Dept: City Council
Phone: 510-284-4082
E-Mail: [email protected]
Councilmember Salwan Referral:
This referral requests that City Council direct staff to:
1. Work with Alameda County Supervisors David Haubert and Elisa Marquez and other county and Library management officials to assess the feasibility of naming the Alameda County Main Library in Fremont after former Mayor Gus Morrison.
2. Approach Abode Services to assess the feasibility of renaming either the Sunrise Village emergency shelter or another notable affordable housing project in Fremont after former Assembly Member and Councilmember John A. Dutra.
BACKGROUND:
Gus Morrison
Gus Morrison served the City of Fremont with distinction for over three decades. He began his public service career on the Fremont City Council in 1978 and served multiple terms as mayor, from 1985 to 1989, 1994 to 2004, and briefly in 2012. Throughout his tenure, Mayor Morrison was known for his dedication to improving the quality of life for Fremont residents. He championed numerous initiatives, including the development of the library, parks and recreational facilities, public safety improvements, and sustainable urban planning. His leadership was instrumental in making Fremont a great place for families.
Naming the Alameda County Main Library after Gus Morrison would honor his lifelong commitment to education, civic engagement, and the betterment of Fremont.
John A. Dutra
John A. Dutra has been a significant figure in Fremont's political and social landscape.
Serving as a member of the California State Assembly from 1998 to 2004, Dutra represented the 20th Assembly District, which includes Fremont. Prior to his tenure in the Assembly, Dutra was a dedicated member of the Fremont City Council. During his time on the council, Dutra advocated for programs and policies to help others, including leading the fight for the city’s first homeless shelter, now called Sunrise Village. Despite the shelter being an unpopular idea at the time, Dutra persisted in his efforts, demonstrating his commitment to addressing homelessness in Fremont. He also successfully pushed for the construction of one of the city’s first affordable and senior housing projects, on land Council Staff Report (ID # 5218) Meeting of July 16, 2024 Updated: 7/12/2024 7:57 AM by Dina Lewis Page 2
formerly owned by the Sisters of the Holy Family in Mission San Jose. Naming either the Sunrise Village homeless shelter or another notable affordable housing project after John A.
Dutra would be a fitting tribute to his enduring contributions to housing and social equity in Fremont.
PUBLIC NOTICE AND OUTREACH: A public notice should be issued to inform residents and stakeholders of the proposed name changes.
FISCAL IMPACT: This referral anticipates that staff time and resources will be required to coordinate with Alameda County officials and Abode Services or another affordable housing provider to implement the renaming of either the Sunrise Village or another notable affordable housing project and that the costs associated with these renaming initiatives are expected to be minimal and can be accommodated within existing budgets. Staff should analyze those and any other unanticipated expenses to assess expenses associated with this referral.
CONCLUSION: Renaming the Alameda County Main Library after former Mayor Gus Morrison and either the Sunrise Village homeless shelter or another notable affordable housing project after former Assembly Member and Councilmember John A. Dutra would honor their legacies and contributions to the City of Fremont. These actions reflect our gratitude for their dedicated service and commitment to our community.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Direct staff to work with Alameda County Supervisors David Haubert and Elisa Marquez and other county and Library management officials to assess the feasibility of naming the Alameda County Main Library in Fremont after former Mayor Gus Morrison.
2. Direct staff to approach Abode Services to assess the feasibility of renaming either the Sunrise Village emergency shelter or another notable affordable housing project in Fremont after former Assembly Member and Councilmember John A. Dutra.